Belle Isle Park Playground Plans Ready:

playground will fill in for maurice gibb park during renovation

The temporary playground on Belle Isle, which will fill in for the one on Maurice Gibb Park during its renovation, is moving forward. Miami Beach Parks Director John Rebar brought proposed plans for the playground to the Commission’s Neighborhood and Community Affairs Committee, which approved the concept. Rebar said his department worked closely with the community on the location and design. Following input from residents, the proposal includes maintaining the open oval field area in the center of the park and placing the playground to one side. The design includes swings, spinners, play stations for ages 2-5 and 5-12, and lots of shade.

Rebar said the City will work around the trees that are there and add sail-like shade structures to cover the area in between. He said one or two small trees may need to be relocated and any unhealthy trees will be removed, but in those cases, new trees will be added to the park. The cost of the playground including the shade structures is $222,490. Rebar said the project is unfunded at this point. He recommended using funding allocated for the Maurice Gibb Park be used now to allow the temporary playground to move forward and replace the money in the next budget cycle. Rebar said he’d like to have the playground open by September. The Committee voted to send a favorable recommendation to the Commission for the construction and funding proposal.